8 Men Indicted In Planned UFC Freedom 250 Attack

Eight men have been formally indicted on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges in connection with the thwarted plot to attack UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, with prosecutors alleging the group planned to assassinate President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other high-profile targets in attendance.

The indictment charges all eight across two separate conspiracies — one to provide material support to terrorists and a second to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official. Conspiring to provide material support to terrorists carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, while the murder conspiracy charge carries up to life.

Federal prosecutors allege the targets included not only Trump and Vance but also Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk and other “high-value targets” expected to be present at the event. Law enforcement first learned of the threat on June 10 — four days before the event — after the mother of Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, contacted local authorities.

The eighth defendant, Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was taken into custody this week and was allegedly assigned to serve as one of the snipers. Court documents state Scaggs was to be picked up by Proper and transported to Washington, but lost contact after Proper’s arrest. Officials say the group harboured fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilise the federal government.